Age Correlation Coefficient Research Articles

Communication networks used by smallholder livestock farmers during disease outbreaks: Case study in the Free State, South Africa

AbstractSmallholder livestock farmers routinely use existing communication networks as their information sources. This study explored these information sources, the frequency of contacts, and perceived usefulness of livestock health-related information received from these sources. Respondents were randomly selected from two farming districts in the Free State province. Using a mix of descriptive and correlation analyses, it categorized respondents according to their total information scores (TISs) and explored the relationship between their scores and socioeconomic characteristics. Findings show that 65% of farmers scored a high reliance on fellow farmers and extension officials. Mass media sources such as radio and television scored low on perceived usefulness. The correlation coefficients for age (−0.228), farming experience (0.183), extension visits (0.002), and information contacts (0.214) were significant (p< 0.05). Level of education (0.256), herd size (0.067), and perceived usefulness of information contacts (0.252) were also significant (p< 0.01). Gender, household size, income, cooperative participation, and access to financial services were not correlated to the TISs of respondents. It was recommended that mass media sources in the area be supported by extension communication specialists to disseminate livestock health-related information.

The correlation between the serum insulin-like growth factor 1 level and body weight in children with a height less than the 10th percentile

IntroductionThis study aimed to analyze the correlation between the serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and body weight and provide some bases for the clinical judgment of the influencing factors on children's height.Material and methodsA total of 333 children with a height of less than the 10th percentile were enrolled in this study. Among these children, 212 were male and 121 were female. The age of these children ranged within 5-14-years-old. Serum IGF-1 level was detected and the Z-scores (SDS) of the children’s height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. The correlation among the factors was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis.ResultsAge, body weight, body weight SDS, BMI and BMI SDS were all correlated with the serum IGF-1 level (P<0.0001). There was also a strong correlation between body weight and the serum IGF-1 level (r=0.718)and a weak correlation between the serum IGF-1 level and body weight SDS (r=0.359). BMI SDS was weakly correlated with serum IGF-1 (r=0.258). The correlation coefficients of age and BMI with serum IGF-1 were 0.622 and 0.536, respectively.ConclusionsThe correlation between body weight and the serum IGF-1 level is not high and it can provide some basis for the clinical judgment of the influencing factors on children's height. However, it is not the main factor affecting height.

Iranian Study on Social Determinants of Self-management in Patients with Hypertension Referring to Tabriz Health Care Centers in 2017-2018.

Aim:The present study aims to evaluate self-management status in Iranian patients with hypertension and its relationship with social determinants.Setting and Design:This study was carried out in 2017-2018 in health care centers affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran.Methods:A total of 240 patients with hypertension, who referred to health care centers of Tabriz, were invited to fill out the self-management (researcher made) and social determinants of health questionnaires.Statistical Analysis:Spearman correlation was used to determine the relationship between self-management score and its items with items of social determinants of health questionnaire. Also, Pearson correlation Student t-test was used.Results:In this research 197 patients were studied. Mean age of the participants was 56.6 ± 10.1 years. The mean ± SD (standard deviation) of self-management score was 81.51 ± 13.16. The correlation coefficient of self -management with financial ability of securing the education expenses, nutrition and fruits, and health care expenses were 0.228 (P = 0.001), 0.149 (P value <0.05), and 0.28 (P < 0.001) respectively. Also, the correlation coefficient of age with self-management was − 0.206 (P value = 0.004). Item level analysis showed strong significant associations between social determinants and three items related to lifestyle and two items related to monitoring of blood pressure (BP) at home.Conclusion:Overall self -management status of the patients was very good. Health centers that plan self -management support programs for patients should consider the social determinants of life style modification and monitoring of BP at home by hypertensive patients.

Anatomical predicting factors of difficult spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section: An observational study.

Objectives:Although Spinal anesthesia is the most common and safe anesthetic method for patients undergoing cesarean section, difficult access to it is a frequent problem in operating theaters. The predictive factors for the difficulty of spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section were investigated.Methods:A total of 110 pregnant women, single-stranded, aged 18-40 years old and ASA class I or II candidates for elective cesarean section with spinal anesthesia were studied. Demographic information, body appearance, ability to bend the back of the patient was recoded. Also the position of the anatomical landmarks of the lumbar spine, the presence or absence of deformity in the spinal column lumbar was recorded for all patients.Results:The correlation coefficient of age, weight, body mass index, general body appearance, retention ability, anatomical signs of the spinal column (touching the spinous process) and the interval between the vertebra with the difficulty of spinal anesthesia were statistically significant (p<0.05). Complications after spinal anesthesia had a statistically significant relationship with the difficulty of performing spinal blockade (p: 0.006).Conclusion:Increasing age, weight, body mass index, reducing the ability to bend the waist, the non-touching of the spinous process and interstitial space causes the difficulty of performing spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing cesarean section. The results can contribute to determining and designing a spinal blockade scoring system based on the patient’s characteristics and effective factors before the surgery, to facilitate the technique by anesthesiologist.

Measuring Mental Chronometry and Cognitive Efficiency through Discrimination Reaction Test for Acquired Reflexes – Case of Loco Pilots of Western Railway

In this article 80 Loco Pilots of Indian Railways participated and screened for deployment on EMUs in Mumbai sub-urban as Motorman. Their mental chronometry and cognitive efficiency through discrimination reaction test (DRT) for acquired reflexes measured. Psycho motor performance of left, right hand and foot was studied while responding associated color signals. The mean reaction time was lowest in case of yellow color associated to left hand comparing to green and red color associated to right hand and foot respectively. The correlation coefficient of age and experience with DRT of participants was found positive but not statistically significant. The positive correlation coefficient in case of working experience and DRT is indeed a good sign of inert aptitude of train driving staff of the Indian Railways. Further, based on ‘t’ values, it can be concluded that the difference between DRT means for yellow, green and red color associated to hands and foot is significant at (p&lt;0.01) level of significance. Results discussed at length and intervention to improve the DRT suggested.Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-3, issue-2: 102-107

Normalized Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in the Prognostication of Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is known to have poor prognosis, with no available imaging marker that can predict survival at the time of diagnosis. Diffusion weighted images are used in characterisation of cellularity and necrosis of GBM. The purpose of this study was to assess whether pattern or degree of diffusion restriction could help in the prognostication of patients with GBM. We retrospectively analyzed 84 consecutive patients with confirmed GBM on biopsy or resection. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. The total volume of the tumor and total volume of tumor showing restricted diffusion were calculated. The lowest Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) in the region of the tumor and in the contralateral Normal Appearing White Matter were calculated in order to calculate the nADC. Treatment and follow-up data in these patients were recorded. Multivariate analsysis was completed to determine significant correlations between different variables and the survival of these patients. Patient survival was significantly related to the age of the patient (p<0.0001; 95% CI-1.022-1.043) and the nADC value (p=0.014; 95% CI-0.269-0.860) in the tumor. The correlation coefficients of age and nADC with survival were -0.335 (p=0.002) and 0.390 (p<0.001), respectively. Kaplan Meier survival function, grouped by normalized Apparent Diffusion Coefficient cut off value of 0.75, was significant (p=0.007). The survival of patients with GBM had small, but significant, correlations with the patient's age and nADC within the tumor.

The Influence of Endodontic Broken Stainless Steel Instruments on the Urinary Levels of Iron

Previous studies on the endodontic broken stainless steel instruments have mainly focused on retrieval of specimens. However, the systemic consequences of the retained separated instruments need an investigation. The current study aimed to evaluate the correlation between broken stainless steel instruments inside the root canal space and the urinary level of iron (Fe) in patients. Sixty near-aged and same-gender patients were selected. Thirty patients in the control group had no endodontic treatment in their history, while the other 30 patients in the endodontic group had broken stainless steel instrument. The urine samples were collected in iron-free containers. All specimens were refrigerated for 1 day and then subjected to Fe level measurement by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and t tests at P < 0.05. The correlation coefficients of age and sex were also evaluated in relation with Fe levels in the urine. The level of Fe did not show any significant increase in the experimental group (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between age and Fe levels of endodontic and control groups. However, the joint effects of age and sex on Fe levels were different for the two groups. The presence of broken stainless steel instruments inside the root canal space did not elevate the level of Fe in the urine of patients. However, this value was positively correlated with the patient age.

Renal parenchymal thickness in children with solitary functioning kidney

Reduced renal parenchymal thickness (PT) is a parameter used by clinicians to assess the degree of hydronephrosis. In patients with a congenital hydronephrotic solitary functioning kidney (SFK), PT is difficult to determine as there is no comparison with the contralateral kidney. The aim of this study was to obtain ultrasound measurements of PT in children with normal SFK and to compare these data with PT measurements in children with two functioning kidneys. This was a prospective multicenter study carried out between 2006 and 2011 in which 236 children aged 11 days to 18.96 years with healthy SFK were examined. The SFK etiologies were unilateral renal agenesis or a nonfunctioning contralateral kidney, mostly due to multicystic dysplasia. In addition to determining other parameters, we measured PT in the middle third of the kidney by ultrasound. Correlations between PT and age, height and weight were assessed. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation with renal PT for all parameters. The correlation coefficients for age, height and weight were 0.863, 0.873 and 0.874, respectively. In most age categories, the renal parenchyma was significantly thicker in the SFK than in two functioning kidneys. Based on our results, we suggest that PT in the SFK is correlated with height, weight and age of the patient. Consequently, measurements of PT may be used for monitoring the development of the healthy SFK and may contribute to a more accurate assessment of the severity of SFK anomalies.

Association of Low-Dose Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants with Global DNA Hypomethylation in Healthy Koreans

BackgroundGlobal DNA methylation levels have been reported to be inversely associated with blood levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), xenobiotics that accumulate in adipose tissue. Whether these associations extend to a population with much lower concentrations of POPs is not known.ObjectivesThis study was performed to examine whether low-dose exposure to POPs was associated with global DNA hypomethylation in Koreans.MethodsThe amount of global DNA hypomethylation was estimated by the percent 5-methyl-cytosine (%5-mC) in Alu and LINE-1 assays in 86 apparently healthy Koreans. Among various POPs, organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were measured.ResultsMost OC pesticides were inversely and significantly associated with %5-mC in the Alu assay, with correlation coefficients in the range −0.2 to −0.3 after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol. The strongest OC pesticide associations with %5-mC in the Alu assay were observed with oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor, and p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene. The correlation coefficient of age with %5-mC in the Alu assay was −0.24, similar to correlations of OC pesticides with %5-mC in the Alu assay. Most PCBs and PBDEs showed nonsignificant inverse trends with %5-mC in the Alu assay, but for some PCBs the U-shaped association was significant. On the other hand, POPs were not associated with %5-mC in the LINE-1 assay.ConclusionsWe found that low-dose exposure to POPs, in particular OC pesticides, was associated with global DNA hypomethylation in apparently healthy Koreans.

Heritability of Age at Natural Menopause in the Framingham Heart Study

ABSTRACT Age at menopause influences the risk of numerous serious illnesses as well as mortality risk. It is estimated that deaths from cardiovascular disease fall by 2% for each year that menopause is delayed. There is evidence from family history studies and heritability estimates that genetic factors contribute significantly to the start of menopause. This study tested the hypothesis that age at natural menopause is heritable by analyzing data from the Framingham Heart Study, begun in 1948. The study sample used in multivariable analyses was based on 1022 families that include 984 members of the original cohort and 680 women offspring. Mean age at natural menopause was similar in the original cohort (49.1 years) and offspring women (49.4 years). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, correlation coefficients for age at natural menopause were 0.21 for mother–daughter pairs, 0.22 for sister–sister pairs, and 0.12 for aunt–niece pairs. Respective estimates of heritability were 0.42, 0.44, and 0.48. Heritability estimates for multivariable-adjusted age at natural menopause were 0.74 in the original cohort (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31–1.00), 0.48 (95% CI, 0.15–0.81) for the offspring, and 0.52 (95% CI, 0.35–0.69) for the pooled sample of offspring and cohort women. At least 50% of inter-individual variability in menopausal age appears to be attributable to genetic effects. The contribution of genetic factors to overall variation in age at natural menopause in offspring was 45%. In the original cohort, genetic factors accounted for 74% of variation in the age at natural menopause. The investigators conclude that a substantial proportion of variability in age at natural menopause can be ascribed to genetic factors. A better understanding of these factors may have important clinical implications.

Effect of age on atrial contribution to ventricular filling after balloon mitral valvuloplasty in mitral stenosis

Objective: Ventricular filling takes place during the conduit and pump functions of the atrium. While studying whether relief of mitral valve obstruction improves atrial filling, the effect of age on atrial contribution to ventricular filling was studied before and after balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) and on follow-up at 1 year. Methods: Patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and sinus rhythm ( n=59) were divided into group I (<18 years, n=13), group II (<30 years, n=29) and group III (>30 years, n=17). Two-dimensional mitral valve area (MVA in cm 2), transmitral mean gradient (MG in mm Hg), velocity time integral (VTI in cm) of mitral valve flow, VTI contributed by atrial systole (A-VTI), difference between total VTI and A-VTI (E-VTI), percentage contribution of A-VTI to the total VTI (A-%) and difference between A-% before and after BMV (δ-A-%) were noted. Follow-up data was obtained at 1 year. The change in A-% at follow-up (A-%-FU) was calculated as the difference between A-% before BMV and A-% at follow-up. Results: There was a similar increase in MVA with a reduction in MG among the three groups. Among the three groups, total VTI and E-VTI before and after BMV were similar. Before BMV, in all the groups, A-VTI and A-% were similar. After BMV, there was increase in A-VTI and A-% in all the groups with a trend to be more in younger patients. A-VTI was significantly higher in group I only. But E-VTI had decreased significantly in all groups and tended to be less in younger patients. In younger patients, δ-A-% after BMV was significantly higher (13.2±7.6, 7.9±5.1 and 6.5±4.5, respectively, in groups I, II and III; p<0.01). Correlation coefficient of age against δ-A-% was −0.55 ( p<0.01). Correlation coefficients of δ-A-% against post-BMV-MVA and MG were not good. At follow-up of 11.3±1.2 months, changes achieved in total VTI, A-VTI, E-VTI and A-% were maintained. Total VTI, A-VTI, E-VTI and A-% were similar at the time of follow-up on comparing the three groups. But younger patients had significantly higher A-%-FU (12.1±5.8, 9.4±4.6 and 7.3±3.1, respectively, in groups I, II and III; p<0.01). Conclusions: Prior to BMV, there is an age related reduction in atrial contribution to ventricular filling that improves with relief of MS. Advancing age reduces the immediate and late recovery of atrial contribution after BMV. This may be due to increasing left atrial fibrosis with age that prevents an improvement in atrial pump function. The differential improvement in atrial function in younger patients warrants earlier intervention in MS to achieve better recovery of atrial function.

Short-term memory span: Effects of age and relationship with other variables

Jacobs' method was used to study the span of short-term memory (STM), visual (letters, syllables, figures) as well as auditory (numbers), its genetic determination and dependence on age and other variables. An average STM span amounts to 8 figures, 6.6 letters 6.4 syllables, 6.7 elements of all the three types, and 5-6 auditory signal. Preliminary norms for the span of visual STM for students are suggested. At the age from 9 to 25 the increase of the extent of STM is linear. The correlation coefficient of age and the span of auditory STM is 0.47 (for 182 subjects). No differences were observed concerning the span of STM with regard to sex. The twin method did not reveal any effect of genetic factors. The span of STM may change subject to the disturbances of blood circulation in the brains. The span of verbal STM is decreased by the disturbances of blood circulation in the left hemisphere, while the disturbances in the right hemisphere negatively influence the STM for geometrical figures. There is little, if any, correlation between the span of STM and other cognitive functions which have been studied, such as characteristics of memory, reading efficiency, etc. No correlation was established with the span of immediate and delayed reproduction. Notwithstanding the reliability of Jacobs ' method, which was confirmed by repeated studies, its validity might be questioned. Thus the value of the data obtained should be considered critically as there might be certain factors related with mnemic strategies.

Compensatory enlargement of human atherosclerotic coronary arteries.

Whether human coronary arteries undergo compensatory enlargement in the presence of coronary disease has not been clarified. We studied histologic sections of the left main coronary artery in 136 hearts obtained at autopsy to determine whether atherosclerotic human coronary arteries enlarge in relation to plaque (lesion) area and to assess whether such enlargement preserves the cross-sectional area of the lumen. The area circumscribed by the internal elastic lamina (internal elastic lamina area) was taken as a measure of the area of the arterial lumen if no plaque had been present. The internal elastic lamina area correlated directly with the area of the lesion (r = 0.44, P less than 0.001), suggesting that coronary arteries enlarge as lesion area increases. Regression analysis yielded the following equation: Internal elastic lamina area = 9.26 + 0.88 (lesion area) + 0.026 (age) + 0.005 (heart weight). The correlation coefficient for the lesion area was significant (P less than 0.001), whereas the correlation coefficients for age and heart weight were not. The lumen area did not decrease in relation to the percentage of stenosis (lesion area/internal elastic lamina area X 100) for values between zero and 40 percent but did diminish markedly and in close relation to the percentage of stenosis for values above 40 percent (r = -0.73, P less than 0.001). We conclude that human coronary arteries enlarge in relation to plaque area and that functionally important lumen stenosis may be delayed until the lesion occupies 40 percent of the internal elastic lamina area. The preservation of a nearly normal lumen cross-sectional area despite the presence of a large plaque should be taken into account in evaluating atherosclerotic disease with use of coronary angiography.

Influence of various feedstuffs containing fat and protein on the nitrogen metabolism of calves

Experiments concerning the nitrogen metabolism of 3-, 5-, 7-, 9-, and 11-week-old calves were carried through. The calves were daily fed 146, 219, 323 g milk replacer and differing amounts of dried skim milk (697, 761, 717, 723, 653 g). Energy consumption was dependent on the consumption of milk replacer. With increasing age, N-digestibility and N-retention from the feedstuffs diminished gradually. The smallest decrease of N-retention was observed with those animals receiving the highest amount of milk fat energy. The decrease of nitrogen digestibility can be attributed to the higher consumption of plant feedstuffs and the decrease of the biologic value of the protein. The experiments concerning the nitrogen metabolism show that a higher dosage of fat had a favourable influence on nitrogen retention. At an age of between 7 and 9 weeks correlation coefficients of between +0.50 and +0.36 were ascertained between the fat content of the feed ration and nitrogen retention. At the same age correlation coefficients of +0.60 resp. +0.53 were ascertained between the energy content of the ration and nitrogen retention. These investigations are the basis for the statement that for the nitrogen retention of calves at the age of 7 to 9 weeks feed energy (fat) is the most important factor. A close positive correlation could be observed between the crude protein consumed with the feed ration and the amount of digested nitrogen. Moderately positive correlation coefficients were calculated between the amount of nitrogen taken in resp. the amount of digestible nitrogen and the assessed amount of nitrogen at the age of 7, 9 and 11 weeks. The experiments with the nitrogen metabolism are the basis for the statement that protein and fat together determine the amount of nitrogen retention for calves fed wth moderate milk protein. For calves fed with less milk protein, 23 to 34% fat in the dry matter of the milk replacer proved to be successful. The favourable effect of a higher amount of milk replacer on nitrogen retention can also be attributed to the higher amount of chemotherapeutic sustances (vitamins, antibiotics) taken in with the milk replacer.